Man gets life in crash death of church-bound girl in Flint

Monday, January 7, 2013

FLINT (AP) -- An ex-convict and drug suspect who fatally struck a 13-year-old girl with a van as she walked to church in Flint has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading no-contest to manslaughter in a deal with prosecutors.

Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton says that 28-year-old Mark Blount of Detroit hit the gas when he believed he was being followed by rivals in the drug trade in September 2011. In fact, police were following him.

Blount struck and killed Misty Kurmas who was walking to meet others in a church youth group. Blount was originally charged with second-degree murder.

Blount was wanted on drug charges and a probation violation at the time. He was sentenced Monday for driving without a license causing death and involuntary manslaughter.